Thailand's army has declared martial law but stresses the move is not a coup

It's tense in Thailand, where violence has spilled into the streets, people have died or been injured, and the army declared martial law Tuesday.

Underscoring the instability, the army's decision to take control of the country came as a surprise to acting Prime Minister Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan, an aide to the leader told CNN.

The army "took this action unilaterally," said the aide, who did not wish to be named. The person described the action as "half a coup d'etat."

Lt. Gen. Nipat Thonglek said the move was not a coup.

"The army aims to maintain peace, order and public safety for all groups and all parties," a ticker running on the army's television channel said. "People are urged not to panic, and can carry on their business as usual," he said.

The people of Thailand are all too familiar with coups. There have been at least 18 actual and attempted military takeovers since Thailand became a constitutional monarchy in 1932.

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Military coup in Thailand – Thai anti-coup activist Sombat Boonngamanong, center, gestures as he arrives escorted by police and soldiers at a military court in Bangkok on Thursday, June 12. The prominent anti-coup figure faces up to 14 years in prison if convicted of incitement, computer crimes and ignoring a summons by the junta, police said. The Thai military carried out a coup May 22 after months of unrest had destabilized the country's elected government and caused outbursts of deadly violence in Bangkok.

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Military coup in Thailand – Officials clean a canal on Friday, June 6, outside Thai Government House in Bangkok in an area anti-government protesters occupied for months. Human-rights activists and foreign governments criticized the military's intervention, but life in Thailand has resumed to something approaching normal while the political situation remains in flux.

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Military coup in Thailand – Thai soldiers entertain people with songs at Victory Monument in Bangkok on Thursday, June 5. The junta is waging a propaganda campaign to encourage "national happiness" following the coup that severely restricted civil liberties.

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Military coup in Thailand – Passengers on a bus watch soldiers entertain the crowds at Bangkok's Victory Monument on June 5.

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Military coup in Thailand – Police secure an area inside the Australian Embassy in Bangkok on Wednesday, June 4.

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Military coup in Thailand – A protester adopts the three-fingered salute from "The Hunger Games" during an anti-coup demonstration in front of the Australian Embassy in Bangkok on June 4.

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Military coup in Thailand – Soldiers pull barbed wire from a canal near the Thai Government House during a cleanup operation June 4 in Bangkok.

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Military coup in Thailand – Thai police officers leave the Victory Monument after they finish guarding it Tuesday, June 3, in Bangkok.

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Military coup in Thailand – Protesters flash the three-finger salute while shouting during an anti-coup demonstration in Bangkok on Sunday, June 1.

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Military coup in Thailand – A protester holds up three fingers during an anti-coup demonstration at a Bangkok shopping mall on June 1.

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Military coup in Thailand – Thai soldiers are deployed at a busy intersection in Bangkok on June 1.

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Military coup in Thailand – Onlookers at a Bangkok shopping mall watch as protesters shout "Freedom!" and "Democracy!" on June 1.

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Military coup in Thailand – Thai soldiers guard a bus stop area to prevent an anti-coup demonstration in Bangkok on Thursday, May 29.

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Military coup in Thailand – A man participates in an anti-coup demonstration in Bangkok on Wednesday, May 28.

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Military coup in Thailand – A protester throws a garbage can at a line of Thai soldiers during an anti-coup demonstration in Bangkok on May 28.

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Military coup in Thailand – Military police stand guard during an anti-coup demonstration at the Victory Monument in Bangkok on Tuesday, May 27.

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Military coup in Thailand – Anti-coup demonstrators gather at the Victory Monument to protest the military coup as Thai soldiers stand guard in Bangkok on May 27.

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Military coup in Thailand – Thai soldiers arrest ousted Education Minister Chaturon Chaisang at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand in Bangkok on May 27.

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Military coup in Thailand – Thai soldiers receive roses from coup supporters at a military base in Bangkok on May 27. Since taking power, military authorities have summoned -- and in some cases detained -- scores of political officials and other prominent figures.

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Military coup in Thailand – Two protesters stand in front riot police during an anti-coup demonstration in Bangkok on Monday, May 26. Demonstrators have taken to the streets in opposition to the coup, while some Thais express hope the military will bring an end to the political crisis.

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Military coup in Thailand – An anti-coup protester faces riot police during a May 26 rally in Bangkok.

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Military coup in Thailand – Thai police take a woman away from an anti-coup protest in Bangkok on May 26.

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Military coup in Thailand – A protester confronts soldiers in riot gear during an anti-coup rally Sunday, May 25, in Bangkok.

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Military coup in Thailand – Thai soldiers are surrounded by anti-coup protesters on May 25 during a demonstration in Bangkok.

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Military coup in Thailand – A Thai soldier, citing safety reasons, apologies to pedestrians after he closes the fence to an overpass during an anti-coup demonstration in Bangkok on May 25.

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Military coup in Thailand – Thai soldiers stand behind their riot shields as protesters threaten them May 25 in Bangkok.

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Military coup in Thailand – Protesters chant slogans during an anti-coup rally May 25 in Bangkok.

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Military coup in Thailand – An anti-coup protester is detained by Thai police officers during a protest in Bangkok on Saturday, May 24.

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Military coup in Thailand – Thai soldiers link arms as they monitor a protest outside a Bangkok shopping complex on May 24.

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Military coup in Thailand – Thai soldiers patrol near a rally site for pro-government demonstrators on the outskirts of Bangkok on Thursday, May 22.

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Military coup in Thailand – Thai soldiers stand guard at a checkpoint outside of Bangkok on May 22.

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Military coup in Thailand – A Buddhist monk walks past a Thai soldier near a pro-government demonstration on the outskirts of Bangkok on Wednesday, May 21.

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Military coup in Thailand – Thai soldiers guard the Thai police headquarters in Bangkok on Tuesday, May 20.

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Military coup in Thailand – Thai soldiers stand guard outside the Government Public Relations Department in Bangkok on May 20.

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Military coup in Thailand – Anti-government protesters listen to their national anthem during a gathering in Bangkok on May 20.

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Military coup in Thailand – Office workers walk past armed soldiers outside the Shinawatra Tower Two office building in Bangkok on May 20.

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Military coup in Thailand – A soldier grips his gun outside the Government Public Relations Department building on May 20.

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Military coup in Thailand – Soldiers hold their positions outside the Government Public Relations Department building on May 20.

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Military coup in Thailand – A soldier stands guard outside the Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order in Bangkok on May 20.

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Military coup in Thailand – Military police officers walk outside the National Broadcasting Services of Thailand offices in Bangkok on May 20. King Bhumibol Adulyadej is pictured on the building.

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Military coup in Thailand – Thai soldiers walk into the National Broadcasting Services of Thailand building on May 20. All Thai TV stations were being guarded by the military.

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Military coup in Thailand – Soldiers sit in the lobby of the National Broadcasting Services of Thailand building on May 20.

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Military coup in Thailand – Soldiers secure the Ratchaprasong intersection in Bangkok on May 20.

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Military coup in Thailand – A group of soldiers gathers outside the Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order on May 20.

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Military coup in Thailand – Military police officers walk in front of the Thai TV 3 offices in Bangkok on May 20. In a statement read on Thai television, the military declared that all of the country's radio and television stations must suspend their normal programs "when it is needed."

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Military coup in Thailand – A soldier stands outside the Government Public Relations Department building on May 20.

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Military coup in Thailand – An anti-government protester waves a Thai national flag during a march through streets of Bangkok on Monday, May 19. Martial law went into effect at 3 a.m. the next morning.

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Thai military threatens to quell protests

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, through a spokesman, issued a statement about the imposition of martial law, saying that he has consistently called on all sides to work together. He is quoted in the statement as saying peace in Thailand can only come about if the people have respect "for democratic principles and engagement in democratic processes."

The secretary-general urged all sides to exercise "utmost restraint, refrain from any violence and fully respect human rights," according to the statement.

The charges against her were brought in a lawsuit that anti-government senators filed. They accused her of abusing her power by unlawfully transferring National Security Council chief Thawil Pliensri from his role in September 2011, alleging the move was intended to benefit her Puea Thai Party and a family member.

"I didn't do anything against the law," Yingluck insisted in court. "I have performed my duty in the administration with the intention of benefiting the country."

Her ascension to power -- in a caretaker role -- came about because of more instability. She dissolved parliament in December, ahead of a general election in February that was disrupted by anti-government protesters. The Constitutional Court subsequently ruled the election invalid.

In November, protesters had taken to the streets against the government's botched attempt to pass an amnesty bill that would have made it possible for Yingluck's brother, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, to return to power. The communications tycoon was ousted in a coup in 2006 and has been living in self-imposed exile in Dubai.

Much of the tension between protesters in Thailand, who have clashed violently in recent years, centers on Thaksin. There are those who vehemently oppose him and those who want him back in power.

"Right now, the military has deployed troops around key intersections of the city. Traffic is a real mess here at the moment, but there's no violence," he said. "I think what the military is trying to do with this ... is to convince protesters to go home. They're trying to dial down the tensions here as well as preempt several large rallies and strikes that were scheduled for later this week."

Sunai Phasuk, a senior researcher on Thailand in Human Rights Watch's Asia division, said declaring martial law is a serious step away from democracy.

"With the enforcement of martial law, the army is one step closer to taking over power completely from civilian administration," he said. "There is no check and balance; there is no safeguards against rights violations."

Guarding the media

As the sun came up Tuesday, the military was guarding all Thai TV stations, Thai public television announced, showing pictures of soldiers and armored vehicles taking positions outside broadcast facilities in the country's capital.

In a statement read on Thai television, the military declared that all of the country's radio and television stations must suspend their normal programs "when it is needed."

The U.S. Embassy in Bangkok alerted American citizens in the country that martial law had been imposed. It warned them to pay attention to media coverage of Thailand and avoid protests and public gatherings, cautioning that peaceful events could turn violent.

Journalists inside the country posted on Twitter that some of their social media accounts were being blocked.

Command and control

The military has established a security task force called the Peace Keeping Command Center, which is headed by army Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha and operates from the Thai Army Club in Bangkok.

The task force has ordered officials to appear before it. Local and international journalists formed a crowd outside the building waiting for Prayuth to speak.

At a news conference, the general said he wanted "all political parties" to start a dialogue aimed at ending the political crisis in Thailand, saying the military "won't allow any bloodshed."

"We cannot keep having" conflict, Prayuth said.

He apologized for banning some TV broadcasts, justifying the measure for reasons of national security. He would not say when martial law would end but indicated he did not foresee it lasting for three to six months.

Going forward

What happens next will depend on how protesters react, Quaglia said.

"The military is taking a step-by-step, gentle approach to see if they can get things to improve," he said. "If not, they'll of course have to ratchet up their actions."

Nipat, the lieutenant general, said theprecise restrictions of martial law were being worked out.

Members of the government's "red shirt" support base, many of whom hail from the country's rural north and northeast, view Yingluck Shinawatra's ouster as a "judicial coup" and have been protesting what they consider an unfair bias by many of the country's institutions against their side.

Anti-government protesters are seeking a new government -- but not through elections, which members of the opposition Democrat Party has boycotted, arguing the alleged corruption of their political rivals makes widespread reform necessary before any meaningful vote can be held.

Increased government efforts to improve security are a positive step, Quaglia said.

"That being said, martial law will not solve the political problems that continue to haunt this country," he said. "The differences are stark, and I don't think the military can step in and by force fix the political issues."